Margaritaville just the start as Atlantic City ramps up for summer

While the Margaritaville complex has been one of the most visible efforts to attract new visitors to Atlantic City, it's hardly the only one.

The grand opening Thursday of the $35 million Margaritaville, at Resorts Atlantic City, is expected to bring about 160 permanent jobs to the city, along with plenty of visitors.

“It’s going to be great for Atlantic City,” said Jeffrey Vasser, president of the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority. “The quality of the project is absolutely amazing and it will do a lot to draw attention to that end of the boardwalk. The fact that a $35 million investment in Atlantic City was made, that says a lot about this being a viable place to invest.”

There are plenty of other new developments for Atlantic City, also.

The Golden Nugget this weekend will open its new Haven Nightclub, a 12,000-square-foot space features a state‐of-the-art lighting system, special effects and a DJ booth that sits in front of an LED video wall. Meanwhile, at Revel, HQ Beach Club is slated to open this weekend, as well. The 45,000-square-foot, adults-only club is billed as a day-to-night pool party experience in tandem with HQ Nightclub. It features several pools and bars on multiple levels, with daybeds, cabanas and bungalows for rent.

“It’s important to continue to add new product to contribute to the perception that we are a lot more than just a gaming destination,” Vasser said.

In addition to opening Margaritaville, Resorts is spending $25 million to renovate its hotel rooms, casino floor and dining options. The Tropicana Casino and Resort is adding several new restaurants to its Marketplace on the boardwalk, anchored by Chickie & Pete’s Crab House and Sports Bar, which is well-known for its crab fries. Steel Pier, meanwhile, has added new rides for this year.

Some tried-and-true favorites will be returning, as well. The Atlantic City Air Show, which drew 908,000 people last year returns on June 26, while the Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival, featuring some of the country’s top chefs, will take place July 25 to 28.

Finally, in September, Atlantic City will welcome back the Miss America Pageant with 13 days of events. That’s expected to generate at least $30 million in economic activity for Atlantic City and the surrounding region.